The first-time candidate decided to run to make sure the old Palerang Region was properly represented and gets its fair share of services.

“Communities like Braidwood, Captains Flat, Bungendore, Majors Creek, Wamboin and Bywong rely on council to listen and address their concerns,” he said. 

“I want to make sure that this will actually happen on council.” 

He said the amalgamation process meant for more than 12 months the region was without a local representative body – a vital mechanism to resolve concerns in the community. 

Mr Preston is a former member of the Wamboin Bushfire Brigade and a foundation player and committee member of the Bungendore Mudchooks Rugby Union Club.

He has taken keen interest in the local community and made representations to the former Palerang Council on behalf of concerned residents on several occasions.

The local business owner said the community was hungry for some guarantees when it came to rates. 

“Over the last couple of years Queanbeyan Palerang have seen some ridiculous rates increases,” he said. 

“As a councillor on QPRC I want guarantees that rate increases will be capped.” 

Other hip pocket issues are high on his agenda. 

“As a candidate for Country Labor, I want to ensure that local jobs are kept in the old centres of Bungendore and Braidwood,” he said. 

“Even though the councils have been amalgamated we need to ensure that local council jobs are not centralised in Queanbeyan.”

While local action to foster job creation was vital, Mr Preston said he and fellow Country Labor candidates would have connections to draw on.

“Country Labor on council will work with the state and federal governments to attract more government agencies to our region,” he said.